Parents turn to temporary tattoos to save their children's lives

Parents are using temporary tattoos to alert others to deadly allergies that affect their children.

Sarah Wetzbarger learned about brightly-colored tattoos called "SafetyTats" about six months ago. They are easily applied to the hands and list each child's allergies.

Both of Wetzbarger's children suffer from allergies to dairy and eggs. Her daughter Rachel had a bad reaction the first time she tasted milk.

"All of a sudden, she had hives all over her face," Wetzbarger said.

Her other daughter, Sofie, is also allergic to tree nuts, and had a bad reaction after eating pistachios.

"She was getting puffy, she was breaking out in hives, she started having problems breathing," Wetzbarger said.

Sarah can closely monitor her daughters at home, but when the girls aren't with either of their parents, she worries. The tattoos last three days. To the kids, they're "cool." To their mom, they're a "must."

"Nothing can [take away all the worry] unless I'm there 24/7," Wetzbarger said. "But it gives me a little peace of mind."

SafetyTats aren't just for children and allergies. People can customize them to describe a medical condition. Parents can order blank tattoos on which they can write a telephone number in case a child gets lost. Caregivers can also use them on seniors with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia.

For more information, visit the SafetyTats web site, www.safetytats.com.